British tourists have been warned of a new police scheme to breathalyse travellers leaving a popular UK airport.
In a test run this week, officers breathalysed over 100 holidaygoers outside Teesside Airport in a bid to catch out those under the influence.
Durham Constabulary performed breathalyser tests on 105 people in total as they left the hotspot in order to stop drunk drivers.
Fortunately, all but one of those tested behind the wheel were found to have no alcohol in their system.
The driver who was found with traces of alcohol in their system, due to consuming a glass of wine on their flight, was below the legal limit and was "given words of advice", police said.
Officers were however "shocked" to see an occupant inside a vehicle they stopped holding a baby on their knee rather than using a child seat.
The driver was handed a penalty notice and "action was taken to ensure the child's safety".
Durham Constabulary said officers from its road policing unit were not only at the airport to arrest potential offenders, but also to "educate people about the risks of having 'just one' and getting behind the wheel".
The force added that officers would be undertaking similar operations at other airports in the area this summer, and concluded: "The message from them is simple: Don't fly, drink, then drive."
DURHAM CONSTABULARY
|Durham Constabulary performed breathalyser tests on 105 people on Monday outside Teesside Airport
Inspector Simon Hogg said: "It is never okay to drive under the influence.
"Please don't be tempted to have some last-minute holiday beers or spirits and drink on the plan if you will be driving home from the airport - life is too precious."
Monday's actions were part of Operation Take Off, launched in December last year after the death of an eight-month-old baby in May.
Zackary Blades was killed alongside his aunt, Karlene Warner, 30, as they were on their way home, driving along the A1, in the early hours of the morning on May 31.
PA
|Zackary's mother, Sharlorna has been campaigning since the accident, launching the Justice for Zackary Blades and Karlene Warner campaign
Their car, driven by Zackary's mother, Sharlorna Warner, was smashed into by 38-year-old Darryl Anderson.
It was later revealed that Anderson, who had landed at Newcastle Airport earlier that morning, had been driving at 140mph and was nearly three times over the legal limit as he took a photo of himself driving.
The crash threw Zackary 50 metres from the car, while his aunt broke nearly every bone in her body.
Anderson was jailed for 17 years last July after pleading guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
Zackary's mother, Sharlorna, who suffered minor injuries in the crash, has been outspoken against drink-driving since the accident, launching the Justice for Zackary Blades and Karlene Warner campaign.
This calls for anyone responsible for drink and drive offences to be banned for life.
At Anderson's sentencing, the court heard he had previously been convicted of drink-driving, and had even received warnings about the manner of his driving by police in Sheffield a week before the fatal crash.
He was banned for driving for 21 and a half years, and must take an extended test before getting his licence back, his victims' family have said this is not enough.
Sharlorna said: "No one should have to go through what we've gone through and if we can stop that next person, make them think twice, then we have done some good.
"We will not stop. I will fight every single day I am on this Earth."